Nextcloud vs Proton Drive
Nextcloud and Proton Drive are both file storage & sharing tools. Nextcloud is aimed at enterprise and developers, while Proton Drive is aimed at freelancers and small businesses. Both have a free plan.
Self-hosted content collaboration platform
End-to-end encrypted cloud storage from Swiss privacy company Proton
| Pricing | Open source | Freemium · $5 |
| Starting price | Not published | $4.99/mo |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Built for | Enterprise, Developers | Freelancers, Small businesses, Enterprise |
| Platforms | web, macos, windows, ios, android | web, windows, macos, ios, android |
| Country | DE · 2016 | CH |
| Rating | — | — |
Choose Nextcloud if
Organizations needing self-hosted collaboration.
- Full data control
- All-in-one suite
- Open source
Look elsewhere if: Teams wanting zero maintenance.
Choose Proton Drive if
Privacy-focused individuals, families and small teams who want encrypted storage that is still easy to use.
- Zero-access encryption by default, not as an add-on
- Swiss company with strong privacy track record
- Bundles with Mail, VPN and Pass give good value
Look elsewhere if: Teams that depend on deep app integrations and live office editing (Google Drive, Dropbox) or need encrypted enterprise controls (Tresorit).
Nextcloud vs Proton Drive pricing
Nextcloud
- Community$0Self-hosted, AGPL
- Enterprise Standard€71.29/user/yr100+ users min; excl. VAT; €53.17 at 200+
- Enterprise Premium€104.99/user/yr100+ users; extended support
- Enterprise Ultimate€204.75/user/yr100+ users; Assistant, Flow, 24/7
- Talk Standard€42/user/yr100+ users
Proton Drive
- Free$0Up to 5 GB after completing Drive setup steps
- Drive Plus$4.99/mo$47.88/yr billed annually; 200 GB, 10-year version history
- Proton Unlimited$12.99/mo$9.99/mo billed yearly; 500 GB plus Mail, VPN and Pass
- Proton Duo$19.99/mo2 TB shared by 2 users, all Proton apps
- Proton Family$29.99/mo3 TB shared by up to 6 users
Nextcloud · Key features
- File sync and share
- Office editing via Collabora/OnlyOffice
- Talk chat and video
- Calendar and contacts
- End-to-end encryption
- Apps ecosystem
Cons
- Self-hosting effort
- Performance tuning
- UI less polished than Google
Proton Drive · Key features
- End-to-end encryption of files, names, folders and photos
- Desktop sync apps for Windows and macOS
- Automatic photo and video backup on iOS and Android
- Share links with passwords, expiry dates and access control
- Encrypted Proton Docs and Sheets inside Drive
- Version history of up to 10 years on paid plans
Cons
- No native Linux sync client yet
- Few third-party integrations compared with Google Drive
- Collaborative editing far behind Google Workspace
Nextcloud vs Proton Drive: FAQ
Do Nextcloud and Proton Drive have a free plan?
Yes, both Nextcloud and Proton Drive have a free plan; paid plans add more usage and features.
Which is better for small businesses, Nextcloud or Proton Drive?
Proton Drive lists small businesses as a core audience, while Nextcloud is aimed more at enterprise and developers.